From: geoff@Apple.COM (Geoff Peck) Newsgroups: rec.aviation Subject: My airplane's been SHOT! (was: The AOPA Archer, SMASHED!) Message-ID: <37815@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 13 Jan 90 20:19:09 GMT References: <14735@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU> <225@herron.uucp> Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA Lines: 42 Posted: Sat Jan 13 21:19:09 1990 Well, it's not anywhere near as bad as Margaret's damaged Archer (to whom I extend my condolances), but when I went out to preflight my Arrow last weekend, I noticed that MY AIRPLANE HAD BEEN SHOT! [Funny thing. To put myself in the proper frame of mind for a good, thorough preflight, I thought to myself as I passed the fence "OK, now what are you going to find wrong with the airplane *today*?] It appears that a bullet went right through the top wing skin, and it's still in there since there's only a dent in the bottom wing skin. Fortunately, the bullet hole is not near any critical components (fuel tank, spar, aileron cables or control rods, etc.). The most likely theory is that it happened at New Year's. The area surrounding RHV is notorious for having people shoot bullets in the air at New Year's, and each year a few airplanes get to receive a few of the bullets. Sigh. Fortunately, my hull insurance will cover it. The most likely course of action is that the wing skin will be replaced, which will then force the issue on repainting the airplane. In article <225@herron.uucp> jbrown@jato.jpl.nasa.gov writes: > See what you get for keeping your airplane in a building? There are > things to FALL on it! If you keep it out in the open like us poor > people in high-rent districts do, all that can happen is that the > airplane next door can jump on it. (And people can taxi into it, and...) > :-) of course. Unfortunately, things can FALL on it even in the great out-of-doors. > If it's just skin damage, it should all be completely fixable. (Maybe > new ailerons and flaps.) [to Margaret...] Having some experience in the matter, I'd suggest that you insist on 100% all new factory parts -- no re-bending, no bondo, no patching. It may take longer, but the insurance company will pay for it. Your airplane should be as good as new when it's finished. Of course, you'll need paint, now... Sigh... Geoff -- Geoff Peck, Apple Computer, Inc., MS60-E, Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 974-3184 geoff@apple.com {sun,nsc}!apple!geoff AppleLink: PECK.G #include